The Oscars: Wonk This Way

My colleagues and I could blog here all day, every day until the last envelope is opened and never come close to the scope of parsing, odds-making, and general philosophizing going on this week at The Film Experience. The site recently launched its annual Oscar Symposium, a three-day exchange between editor Nathaniel Rogers and six notable film bloggers whose voyage to the outer reaches of Oscar esoterica has even the most hardened awards-season pros questioning their own stamina.

In this case, it’s down to Ruby Dee or Amy Ryan, in my opinion. Do we really think that all of the acting prizes are going to go to Europeans? I just don’t see it happening, folks. Day-Lewis, Christie (or Cotillard), Bardem and….? No, I take the Marisa Tomei rule on this one and am contemplating it for Best Actress too: Laura Linney, the singular American (if she is even American). Julie Christie is practically American as we’ve claimed her long ago. Cotillard, it seems to me, is following the Ellen Burstyn trajectory (other than the French/American thing): brilliant performance in a “weird” film.

Check out The Film Experience for more, but fair warning: This stuff is addictive, and don’t expect you’ll be able to get back to work anytime soon.

S.T. VanAirsdale is the founder and editor of the New York film culture site The Reeler.